Help for more to quit smoking

Following the success of a local stop smoking program targeting people with mental health problems and during pregnancy, there is more help available for people to quit smoking.

Ealing Council, through its contracted partner Ealing Community Partners, West London NHS Trust, will provide wider smoking cessation support to more groups, continuing to work with those with mental health conditions and during pregnancy. Others who will receive support include:

• people working in routine and manual jobs
• the people who live in the most disadvantaged areas of the neighborhood
• those with long-term conditions, especially cardiac and respiratory conditions
• engaging with young drug and alcohol service users, rough sleepers and people experiencing homelessness
• Black and minority ethnic groups, including the Polish community
• lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Really encouraging results

Councilor Polly Knewstub, cabinet member for healthy equal lives, said: “This time last year we launched a stop smoking service focusing on pregnant women and people living with mental health issues. The results were really encouraging. In just 8 months, 46 people successfully quit, which is a 61% quit rate.

“This success laid a solid foundation for our new expanded service.

“Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease. This targeted help really works to help smokers quit and all the evidence shows that quitting really improves health.

“The success of our targeted service has shown us what we can do when we come together as a community to tackle major issues”

12 week program

While figures continue to fall nationally, smoking in the borough is currently 15.9%, which is higher than London (11.7%) and England (12.7%). Smoking is also the main driver of health inequalities, something the council is committed to seeing improved.

Those taking part in the program will receive help from training counselors for up to 12 weeks and practical help, including e-cigarettes containing nicotine, if needed, and prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Referrals can be made through GPs or through the Ealing Community Partners website.